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THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM HOSTS TOY DRIVE FOR CHILDREN
By Libby Hopkins
For more than 20 years, the Guardian ad Litem Program, in partnership with Voices for Children, has hosted an annual Christmas toy drive so Guardian ad Litem volunteers are able to choose toys for the children that they are serving.
“More than 2,700 children are represented by the Guardian ad Litem Program currently and Santa would never want a child to not have a toy for Christmas,” said Community Outreach Coordinator for Guardian ad Litem Program 13th Circuit – Hillsborough Sharon Beningfield. “Over the years, there have been thousands of children who have received gifts through the generosity of our community. It takes a village to raise children and a whole community to keep the magic in Christmas.”
The Guardian ad Litem Program is very fortunate to have the support of Voices for Children, a local nonprofit that assists with bringing normalcy to children in foster care. It has wonderful donors who go above and beyond to make the holidays very special each and every year.
“This is just a story that motivates us to continue to reach out to the community for help in making the lives of the children we serve a little brighter and maybe feel a little more normal,” said Sheila DelCastillo,
Guardian ad Litem trainer and toy drive coordinator. “One of my favorite memories from about seven years ago is of a 13-year-old boy that had asked for a pair of Nike tennis shoes for Christmas. We were able to find a donor to proFor more than 20 years, the Guardian ad Litem Program, in partnership with Voices for Children, has hosted an annual Christmas toy drive. vide them. When he opened the box, the young man joyfully shouted, ‘Wow, a real pair of Nikes that weren’t someone else’s first.’ He had been in foster care for about three years and had not had a new pair of shoes in his 13 years that he could remember.” The community is able to help with the toy drive by donating new gifts for all ages, like gift cards to stores, gift cards to fastfood restaurants, art and craft items, ear buds and chargers, watches and hoodies. “While many people see gift cards as impersonal, they actually give a child a chance to make a choice of their own, maybe eat a meal they wouldn’t normally get to choose or join a friend for a snack after school when they might otherwise have to decline,” Beningfield said. “Those who would like to donate financially can do so through Voices for Children at www.vfcgal.org.” If you would like to learn more about the Guardian ad Litem Program, you can visit its website at www.galtampa.org. It will be collecting gifts through Friday, December 10.
BUSCH GARDENS CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS WITH CHRISTMAS TOWN
Staf Report
One of Tampa’s biggest and brightest holiday event opens earlier this year with millions of twinkling holiday lights throughout Busch Garden’s 335 acres, spectacular fireworks and a brand-new experience with SanBusch Gardens’ Christmas Town events start this ta that will month and ofers something for everyone. create merry memories for guests of all ages. Included in park admission, the award-win ning holiday event features allnew activities for the whole family.
Three new events this year add to the traditional experience. The new Holiday in the Sky Fireworks Show will let guests enjoy classic holiday tunes and watch festive bursts of Christmas colors as they cover the sky in a dazzling fireworks display. Holiday in the Sky is offered on the Festival Field every Saturday and select event nights beginning on November 13. There will also be a new Storytime with Mrs. Claus and the chance for guests to visit Santa in his workshop with Santa’s North Pole Experience.
Other fan-favorite holiday entertainment returning to this year’s Florida-style winter wonderland includes Christmas on Ice, Busch Gardens’ longest running holiday show, in the Moroccan Palace Theater, and Elmo’s Christmas Wish, where guests can join Cookie Monster, Rosita, Grover and Zoe as they help Elmo find his Christmas wish. Also, the Three Kings Journey, a musical tale of the famed journey to Bethlehem, is celebrated in the round at the Stanleyville Theater, and guests have the chance to journey to Rudolph’s Winter Wonderland to find the most famous reindeer of all. As guests dash through the night between iconic rollercoasters, they can explore the Christmas Town Village, a delicious destina tion filled with drinks and dishes from an indulgent holiday menu. These unique, limited-time options include new specialty cocktails like the Mistletoe Margarita and the Apple Brandy Hot Toddy. Complete the night with a signature Christmas Town Hot Chocolate featuring festive flavors like peppermint or gingerbread. Feel the spirit of the season in each bite with the new maple bourbon pecan pie or feast on holiday favorites like the smoked brisket totchos. Guests can purchase a Christmas Town Sampler Lanyard, starting at only $44.99 for an eightpunch lanyard.
To be the first to know about event details and special offers, visit www. christmastown.com and follow Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Guests are encouraged to check the park’s website before visiting to learn which event components are available each date. Christmas Town runs daily with park-wide festive fun from Friday, November 12 through Sunday, January 2.
LAKE BRANDON VILLAGE 11325 Causeway Blvd • Brandon (813) 655-1237 SOUTH BRANDON 2010 Bloomingdale Ave • Brandon (813) 571-0569
Hours: 6am - 10pm
Notice Under Fictitious Name Law Pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fctitious name of K.I. LUXURY TRANSPORTATION located at 12904 BENT TWIG DR., in Hillsborough County, in the City of Riverview, Florida, 33579, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida. Dated at Valrico, FL this 23rd Day of November, 2021
FIRST 10 WINDOWS
By Lily Belcher
Over 300 seniors participated in Hillsborough County’s Active Life Games.
On October 4, the 40th annual Active Life Games kicked of for Tampa Bay area seniors 50 and older with participants from Eastern Hillsborough County. The games are designed to encourage activity in senior residents to improve their physical and mental health. This year’s Active Life Games, formally known as the Tampa Bay Senior Games, was hosted at Carrollwood Village Park. Over 375 seniors participated in games, such as track, pickleball and shufeboard. Each sport was divided into three age brackets (50-54, 55-59 and 60-64) and the top five athletes from each age and sport category advanced to the state games.
“Pickleball—that is our huge event, said Troy Stewart, who led the organization of the 2021 Active Life Games. “We had pickleball men’s, pickleball women’s and then we had mixed doubles. We had over a hundred participants in those two combined.”
Seniors who registered got to select which games they wanted to participate in and which group (based on age and gender) they wanted to join. Seniors were encouraged to continue their love of community sports after the games with fellow senior athletes in their recreation centers. Last year, the Active Life Games were cancelled due to the coronavirus, but Stewart was able to continue the tradition this year with an outdoor venue and sanitization process for equipment. While navigating the newfound need for health and safety precautions, Stewart made many new memories with the participants, saying, “having a blast with each other and the comradery with being with the seniors and laughing and joking with them” was the best part. Stewart led the development of this year’s Olympic-style event after taking over when the original coordinator left two months before the games. He said that his team supported and assisted him throughout the finalizing of the plans and during the event. “Moving forward to next year, we ask that each participant invite at least one or two people, and that will help double us to about 600 participants,” said Stewart. The 41st annual Active Life Games are tentatively planned for the first two weeks of October 2022. Seniors can register at hillsboroughcounty.org or request a paper registration via mail. For more information, contact Stewart at 813-344-8415.
THE KNIGHTEN PROJECT PACKING WITH A PURPOSE DONATION DRIVE
By Amy Schechter
Te Knighten Project packs brand-new suitcases flled with everyday essentials for teens aging out of foster care in Tampa.
What happens when a child ages out of foster care? Often these young men and women are thrust into adulthood and face instant homelessness. Many are still in high school and need jobs or transportation. Additionally, without the guidance of a forever family, they are more likely to develop chemical dependencies, become pregnant while young or turn to crime. Bernetta Knighten founded The Knighten Project in 2015 to restore hope and change these young peoples’ lives one dream and one action at a time.
Knighten explained her passion: “Foster children are a forgotten population. I had friends in foster care growing up, and now it has come full circle with my own children’s friends. I wanted my kids to see us giving back.” The Knighten Project is a philanthropic organization whose sole purpose is to provide a brand-new suitcase filled with everyday essentials to young adults transitioning out of the foster care system in the Tampa area. “While in foster care, they receive many hand-me-downs, and having something brand-new is so important,” Knighten added. “They often leave with their few belongings in plastic bags. Imagine going into adulthood with nothing, no frame of reference.”
Last year, The Knighten Project had a goal to provide 25 suitcases but raised enough to provide 100. This year, the drive runs from October 15 through December 15 with the goal of matching or exceeding last year’s eforts. It hopes to bless as many foster teens this holiday season as possible with suitcases going to foster teens at the Grow Into You Foundation and Camelot. If you want to be a part of what it lovingly calls adult starter kits, please consider making a monetary donation or providing a brand-new suitcase. The Knighten Project also hopes to connect with local businesses interested in providing resources to local foster teens, both physical items, such as toiletries or clothing, as well as knowledge. With each kit, Knighten wants to provide a resource folder where foster teens can learn about local programs that can help them as they find a place to live, transportation and employment. Visit theknightenproject.org/ packing-w-purpose-2021-donation-drive or email knightenproject@gmail.com.
